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Switch, The

6/10

Stars: Jennifer Aniston, Jason Bateman, Patrick Wilson, Jeff Goldblum, Juliette Lewis, Todd Louiso, Scott Elrod, Kelli Barrett

Director: Josh Gordon, Will Speck

In a bleak year for romcoms, it's almost a pleasure to see one that's even slightly above average. Though successful enough in business, Wally (Bateman, doing pretty well with a role that's difficult to get right) could still have LOSER stamped on his forehead.

His best friend Kassie (Aniston) with whom, of course, he's been madly in love for years, decides that, approaching middle age, she'd like to have a baby. As sperm donor, she selects the stallion-like Roland (Wilson) but, on the crucial night, a drunken Wally switches Roland's contribution with one of his own.

Kassie moves away from New York, returning six years later with sprog (Thomas Robinson) in tow. To Wally's consternation, the kid already has many of his mannerisms, including an appreciative hum while eating. The inevitable complication to all this is that Kassie has started dating Roland, now divorced.

You know you could write the rest in your sleep, but Aniston is pretty much OK and Bateman sympathetic enough in a role better-known comic stars could well have mishandled through being too self-absorbed.

The opening - 'Look at us. Always running around. Always on a high. Guess that's why it's called the human race' - isn't too auspicious, but the dialogue improves sufficiently to offer a few smart lines to the kid, and to the ironic, offbeat delivery of supports Goldblum (long time no see) and Lewis.

David Quinlan

USA 2010. UK Distributor: Lionsgate. Colour by deluxe.
96 minutes. Not widescreen. UK certificate: 12A.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 1, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 0, Swearing 0.

Review date: 27 Aug 2010